Knifeman told mentor he was reformed man

A CONVICTED terrorist told a mentor he had changed his ways, days before carrying out a high street knife rampage which ended in him being shot dead by police, an inquest has heard.

Sudesh Amman, 20, confided how he “now realised” that those who committed terrorist acts ended up “pushing people away” from Islam.

Amman, from Coventry and of Sri Lankan heritage, made the comments on January 30, 2020, three days before he stole a knife and ran down a south London street stabbing randomly at members of the public before being fatally brought to a halt.

An inquest into Amman’s death at the Royal Courts of Justice heard Amman had been provided with support from both a practical and a theological mentor, both of whom had met with him following his release from prison earlier in January.

The pair described being “shocked” and when they realised they knew the man responsible for the atrocity, on Streatham High Road, on

February 2.

A report prepared by Witness M, following his final meeting, read by Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest, said: “He (Amman) said he now realised that people who hurt other people through things like acts of terror were pushing people away from the faith and causing hatred.”

Giving evidence to the inquest yesterday,

Witness M said Amman had been “the most relaxed that I’d seen him” in all of their previous four face-to-face chats, both in prison and out.

Witness M said: “He was happy to talk, he had no moments where he held back from saying anything, and he seemed happy and relieved at being released.

“I took him at his word. He seemed sincere the way he was saying it.”

The inquest continues.